Assistant AG goes through GC rigmarole

During a three-hour confirmation hearing that was at times heated, politically-charged and cringe-inducing, Superior Court judicial nominee Kenneth W. Salinger fended off questions about his connections to liberal advocacy groups, the perceived arrogance prevalent in his judicial application and his lack of criminal and trial experience.

Social conservatives dogged Salinger, who is an appeals coordinator in the Office of the Attorney General’s government bureau, about his connections and support of liberal advocacy groups like MoveOn.org and EMILY’s List and his financial contributions to political causes and candidates.

C. J. Doyle, the executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, complained that “the sheer volume of contributions suggest a profile of someone who is very ideological, very partisan, very political, an activist and an advocate. And there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that except those are perhaps not qualities we would want to see in a dispassionate and impartial jurist.”

J. Joseph Lydon, a retired attorney from Brewster, also had misgivings. During a 25-minute rant where he quoted Lyndon Johnson and referenced Shakespeare and Padre Pio, Lydon tried to poke holes in Salinger’s resume, criticized his experience and also questioned Salinger’s connections to political groups, particularly EMILY’s List.

Salinger worked at Palmer & Dodge for 16 years before taking a job at the AG’s office in 2006, a move that Salinger said was born out of his value for public service.

Lydon wondered aloud why Salinger would make such a career decision.

“That might be a midlife crisis or whatever, I’m not playing psychoanalyst. That’s Mr. Salinger’s choice,” he said.

Lydon then got in a heated back-and-forth with Councilor Marilyn M. Petitto-Devaney. The councilor pressed him on how he acquired Salinger’s Governor’s Council questionnaire before the hearing.

At least three councilors said they thought Salinger’s application came off as arrogant and more than one expressed concerns about his lack of criminal experience and civil trial experience.

It was not all negative. Current and former colleagues praised Salinger’s legal mind and professionalism, while Councilor Christopher A. Ianella Jr. said he was impressed with his temperament and demeanor throughout the hearing.

Salinger is looking to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Nancy S. Holtz. The council is scheduled to vote on Salinger next Wednesday, July 25.